Best Winchester Lever Gun for Deer

A 94 in 30-30 would be the simplest to find ammunition for. I've smoked a few whitetail with my plain old .32 WS 94. Not sure, but I don't think the deer really care.

I wouldn't turn down a nice post 64. There was a nice one just sold on here for $425 shipped. Some people on here make it sound like all post 64's are terrible rifles. They aren't all bad..
 
I discovered the earliest Post 64 lever 30-30s about the worst. Examples: Buffalo Bill and Canadian Centennial carbines and rifles. And critical parts different enough to regulate them to an altogether seperate Post 64 series. A series poisoned with stamped metal shell lifters and plagued by feeding problems from the magazine.
Later Post 64 carbines and rifles seem to addressed the worst of this 1966-1967ish era of crappiest lever guns in the history of Winchester.
Which is too bad because the rifle barrels were downright superbly accurate at this time as well.
 
I would go with the Browning copy of the winchester 86 carbine in 45/70.The 45/70 is deadly on deer even in it s factory loading ,it is a great cartridge if the range is kept under 150 yards.The only downside to the 86 is it is iron sights only as it is top eject though you might be able to fit a side mount on it but I prefer iron sights on my levers anyway
 
chasseur said:
I would go with the Browning copy of the winchester 86 carbine in 45/70.The 45/70 is deadly on deer even in it s factory loading ,it is a great cartridge if the range is kept under 150 yards.The only downside to the 86 is it is iron sights only as it is top eject though you might be able to fit a side mount on it but I prefer iron sights on my levers anyway
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Or a nice Browning 71 in 348. All the Browning replicas are absolutely beautiful.
 
My picks would be my 92 in 44-40 that some jackass says it is illegal to hunt deer with now in Saskatchewan. Even though it punches holes in deer near the size of the Grand Canyon and my old 86 in 45-70 - now that’s a cannon.

My boy would say his model 55, which has shot a pile of deer and bears.
 
chasseur said:
I would go with the Browning copy of the winchester 86 carbine in 45/70.The 45/70 is deadly on deer even in it s factory loading ,it is a great cartridge if the range is kept under 150 yards.The only downside to the 86 is it is iron sights only as it is top eject though you might be able to fit a side mount on it but I prefer iron sights on my levers anyway
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The bolt mount peep on me Pedersoli 86/71 solves the open sight hassle fer older eyes & gives a proper sight radius on the beasty. Love this rifle for still hunting, but prefer a Win 94 fer stalking.

45-70 Pedersoli.jpg
 

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I've got a 65 model 94 in 30-30. I bought it from the original owner and family friend a few years ago. It shot a thousand rounds flawlessly and lived in a leather scabbard behind the seat of a old Ford farm truck.
When the original owner moved to long term care I bought the rifle as I felt it was an "extended" family aireloom and didn't want to see it dissapear.
It's seen an abusive life and shows it. I've dragged it out as a camp gun again and again as a tribute to the original owner, he likes to hear it's getting use. It never fails runs any ammo and is still all original.
When I finally spent the time and looked the serial number up I was learned it was a 65. With more research, the interweb told me it was the biggest POS lever gun made.
Call me the black sheep, and sure pre-64 is better, but my 1965 in 30-30 is a great work horse even 50+ yrs later.
 
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